importation
UK[ˌɪmpɔːˈteɪʃn]US[ˌɪmpɔːrˈteɪʃn]
n
The act or business of bringing goods or services into one country from another.
n
Something that is imported.
Morpheme Breakdown
im
port
ation
im
in
port
carry
ation
action/state
Etymology
The word 'importation' is built upon the Latin verb 'importare', which itself is a compound of 'in-' (into) and 'portare' (to carry). This literal sense of "carrying into" a place was used in Latin for bringing in goods from foreign lands. The suffix '-ation' was added in English to form a noun denoting the action or process, a pattern common with verbs of Latin origin. Thus, the modern term retains the core logic of its ancient components, describing the commercial process of carrying goods into a country.
Analysis
Structure: im (in) + port (carry) + ation (action/state)
- im: Latin prefix, a form of 'in-' meaning 'in, into'.
- port: Latin root, from 'portare', meaning 'to carry'.
- ation: Latin suffix, forming nouns of action or state.
Examples
The importation of rare spices was a lucrative trade.
Strict laws regulate the importation of agricultural products.
A sharp rise in the importation of manufactured goods affected the local economy.